Animal-trap.



D. S. TRAVIS.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED 001.22, 1911.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Wihwono THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C

' DAVIEDIS. TRAVIS, or mann'neosoz-rro.

(ANIMAL-TRAP; 7 f

Specification of Letters Patent.

j P e ed Sept. 1 1914.

Application filed October 2, 1911. Serial Niel-652,351. I

To all whom itmay concern: 1

Be it known that 1,;DAV'IDS. TRAVIS, a citizen of the 'United v States residing at Marengo, in the county of Morrow and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AnimalTraps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates-to an improved form of animal trap and is particularly designed to provide a trap of a structure especially effective in trapping rats and mice, which animals are known to be of an extremely sensitive and suspicious nature.

It is aimed to produce such a structure of trap that a rat or mouse will be precipitated with extreme suddenness through the floor of the trap after it has entered a certain distance into such trap, such precipitation being effected through an extremely sensitive releasing trigger.

In the effectuation of my invention, it is aimed to obviate all raised platforms or pro-v jections or any unnatural appearance to the floor of the approach to the bait. This result is desirablyattained by the provision of a pivoted floor flap for controlling the latch for the pivoted floor and so cooperating therewith, as to be returned automati cally to normal position after the operation of such latch and by suchlatch. Such return to operative position is facilitated and insured by a checking pin, which obviates danger of excessive movement of the flap in its return to operative position.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which: p v

Figure l is a top plan 'view ofmy improved animal trap, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows and showing in dotted lines the position of thepivoted floor at one point in its swinging operation, and, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the pivoted floor and showing the structure of latch. I

My trap comprises a main stationary floo 1, side pieces 2 and 3, a back piece 2 connecting the sides 2 and 3, a wire covering for a portion thereof as at 4; and a box-likestructure carried by the stationary floor and formed by the walls 5, 6 and 7, together with the covering plate 8. The walls '2 and 6 form a run-way which is the only means of access forthe animal to the bait, which is located somewhere beneath the wire coverin i.

Substantially centrally-s of the. stationary floor 1, there is formed a cut-away portion 9 within-which is mounted,.uponxlongitudinalpivots 10, a pivoted floor 11 having one edge provided with a. slot or groove for the reception of' weight 12. This pivoted floor 1s" provided upon its: edge within-the runwayv with a swinging latch 13 carried withi in journals 14 upon the under surface of the pivoted floor and having a lateral extension 15 normally held'upward by aleaf spring 16 likewise attached at one end to the under surface of the pivotedfloor. This latch 13 coacts with the keeper pin 17 Formed, in the rear end of "thepivotedfloor is a flap 18 desirably pivoted near its rearmost extremity upon pivot pins 19 and having its forward endheld in raised position by the lateral extension 15 of the latch .13 which extends there beneath; This flap isprevented from moving above the plane of thepivoteol floor by a pin 20 carried by the floor.

There is mounted within the" box-like I structure formed by the walls 5, 6 and 7 i and desirably upon the walls 6, a check pin 21 whichserves to. limit the swinging movement of the pivoted floor and prevent it from passing'to avertical position and thereby destroy theeifect of the weight 12.

From the above, it will be observed that I have provided a structure of animal trap v wherein the animal approaches the bait This pivoted floor is substantial and easily supports the animal I until the slightest through .a run-way over a pivoted floor.

weight isapplied to the flap 18. When this I happens, the fiap presses downwardly upon the lateral extension'15 of the latch and releases the pivoted vfloor, which precipitate's the animal downwardly through the floor.

of the trap into any suitable receptacle, The weighted side of the pivoted floor is checked in its swinging movement by the check pin 21 and automatically returns the floor to action of such lateral extension and of the pin 20.

stationary approach, an uncovered runway,

a pivoted floor for said runway in the same plane as said approach, an inclosed casing on one side of said runway, a portion of said floor extending under saidcasing and operating within said casing, a supplemental floor flap at the inner end of said runway pivoted at its inner end and in the same plane with said approach, a bait compartment to the rear of said flap comprisin an inclosed a casing covered with wire, a swlng latch for maintaining said floor and flap in position, a pln to limit upward movement of said flap, a pin for limiting upward movement of I said floor, and a counter weight to return I said floor to operative position after sald trap has been sprung.

In testimony whereof I ElfilX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l DAVID S. TRAVIS. Witnesses:

' ELMER J. -HARRIS, V PRnsToN SMITH.

Copies of th is patent may' be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of IPatents,

'- i I r Washington, D. C. 

